Yr Wylan

Yr Wylan(The Gull) is a poem by Dafydd ap Gwilym. The text and translation is taken from http://www.dafyddapgwilym.net, published by the Welsh Department of Swansea University. Details regarding the manuscripts can be found at the same website.

Text

Yr Wylan

Yr wylan deg ar lanw, dioer,

Unlliw ag eiry neu wenlloer,

Dilwch yw dy degwch di,

Darn fal haul, dyrnfol heli.

Ysgafn ar don eigion wyd,

Esgudfalch edn bysgodfwyd.

Yngo'r aud wrth yr angor

Lawlaw â mi, lili môr.

Llythr unwaith lle'th ariannwyd,

Lleian ym mrig llanw môr wyd.

Cyweirglod bun, cai'r glod bell,

Cyrch ystum caer a chastell.

Edrych a welych, wylan,

Eigr o liw ar y gaer lân.

Dywaid fy ngeiriau dyun,

Dewised fi, dos hyd fun.

Byddai'i hun, beiddia'i hannerch,

Bydd fedrus wrth fwythus ferch

Er budd; dywaid na byddaf,

Fwynwas coeth, fyw onis caf.

Ei charu'r wyf, gwbl nwyf nawdd,

Och wŷr, erioed ni charawdd

Na Merddin wenithfin iach,

Na Thaliesin ei thlysach.

Siprys dyn giprys dan gopr,

Rhagorbryd rhy gyweirbropr.

Och wylan, o chai weled

Grudd y ddyn lanaf o Gred,

Oni chaf fwynaf annerch,

Fy nihenydd fydd y ferch.

Translation

The Gull

Fair gull on the tide, indeed,

of the same hue as snow or the white moon,

your beauty is without blemish,

a piece like the sun, gauntlet of the brine.

You are light on the ocean wave,

swift proud fish-eating bird.

You'd go close by the anchor

hand-in-hand with me, sea lily.

Just like a letter you are painted silver,

you're a nun on the crest of the sea tide.

Perfect praise of a girl, you are praised afar,

make for the curve of fortress and castle.

Gull, look for one

of the colour of Eigr on the lovely fortress.

Say my ardent words,

may she choose me, go to the girl.

If she's alone, make bold to greet her,

be courteous to the dainty maid

for gain; say I will not live,

noble refined youth, unless I have her.

I love her, strength of complete passion,

oh men, neither Myrddin

with his fine wheaten lips

nor Taliesin ever loved a fairer one.

A sought-after girl [dressed in] fine linen under copper [hair],

exquisite visage perfectly formed.

Ah gull, if you get to see

the cheek of the fairest girl in Christendom,

unless I get a most gentle response

the girl will be the death of me.